Pipe forming apparatus



Feb. 27. 1968 L. H. RUPLE 3,370,448

PIPE FORMING APPARATUS I Filed Feb. 1, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.LEM [S H. RUPLE BY I QZZaLM-Y Q4112 Feb. 27, 1968 L. H. RUPLE 3,370,448

PIPE FORMING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 1, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J i II- 1IIIIIIIIIIII? N 9: o 3 8 I 1 :1

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o INVENTOR. o LEWIS H RUPLE BY W p AWRNEQS Feb. 27, 1968 L. H. RUPLEPIPE FORMING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Shet 5 Filed Feb. 1, 1965 INVENTOR LEW\S H. RUPLE ATroRNEvs United States Patent 3,370,443 PiPE FfiRh/ilN-GAPPARATUS Lewis H. Ruple, 52 Mulberry St., Perrysburg, Dhio 43551 FiledFeb. 1, 1965, Ser. No. 429,272 4 Claims. (Cl. 72l76) ABSTRAQT OF THEDISCLOSURE An entry table structure for supporting flat strip stock asit enters the entry end of a tube mill for forming from a continuousflat strip of metal, a tube of a predetermined selected diameter whereinthe table includes means for effecting vertical movement of one endthereof with respect to the other.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming froma continuous fiat strip of metal, a tube of predetermined selecteddiameter. More particularly, the invention relates to the entry end of atube mill wherein the forming operations of the fiat strip stock areinitially commenced.

In recent years the production rates of tube mill equipment havesteadily increased. Ireviously, tube mills having production capacitiesof the order of 60 to 120 feet per minute were considered acceptable;however, today it is not uncommon to be confronted with the requirementof 150 to 300' feet per minute. Such high production rates have causedmany problems in the handling of the material being formed. In additionto the problems caused by the higher production rate requirements,recently developed concepts have made it possible for a single mill toproduce tubing of alarge range of diameters from stock of a large rangeof wall thickness.

It is an object of the present invention to produce a tube mill having auniversal entry end section adaptable to receive flat strip stock usedfor forming tubing of a predetermined diameter selected from a widerange.

Another object of the invention is the production of a tube mill havingan entry end section capable of being readily adjusted to accommodateflat strip stock of a thickness selected from a wide range. These andother objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description of an embodiment of the inventionwhen considered together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a tube mill illustratingthe entry end of the forming section thereof:

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the tube mill section,illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevation of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURES land 2, taken opposite to the direction of the strip travel; and

FIGURE 4 is a top plan View of the apparatus illustrated'in FIGURES 1,2, and 3.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated the initial portion ofthe forming section of a tube mill, generally referred to as the entryend of the mill. In the apparatus illustrated, there is provided aplurality of sequentially arranged supporting rolls and sets of formingrolls 12 and 13. These rolls are rotatably mounted on a base frameconsisting typically of a pair of parallel, spaced apart side railmembers 14 and 16; and parallel spaced apart end rail members 18 and 20.

The opposite ends of the individual rolls 10 which form the supportrolls are rotatably journaled within bearing elements 22 and 24 securedto the upper portion of the side rail members 14 and 16, respectively.The forming rolls 12 and 13, which comprise the forming section, are

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typically arranged in sets of individual rolls such that the side rolls12 have their rotational axes inclined toward one another, whereby theimaginary extensions thereof form an obtuse angle. The intermediatesupporting rolls 13 are disposed to rotate about generally horizontallydisposed axes and are generally co-planar with respect to the rolls 19.The innermost ends of the rolls 12 are rotatably journaled withinbearing elements 26 supported by a respective one of a pair of spaced,centrally disposed rail members 28 and 3!). One end of each of the railmembers 23 and 3% is secured to the end rail member 18; while theopposite end of each is secured to a transversely extending rail member32.

The outer ends of the forming rolls 12 are rotatably journaled withinbearing elements 34 which are arranged to position the rolls 12 suchthat the inclination thereof becomes greater in the direction of travelof the strip of metal being formed. The direction of travel of the stripbeing formed is from right to left in FIGURES l, 2, and 4.

Between each pair of forming rolls 12 there is disposed a generallyhorizontally disposed supporting roll 13. The opposite ends of each ofthe supporting rolls 13 are rotatably journaled within bearing elements36 and 38 which in turn are secured to the centrally disposed railmembers 28 and 36, respectively. At the right hand, or inlet, side ofthe apparatus, there is disposed a pair of spaced apart upstandingstandards 40 and 42 arranged to rotatably support the opposite ends ofone roll 44 of a pinch roll assembly. In the arrangement illustrated,the roll 44 is disposed immediately above a supporting roll 10 whichcooperates therewith to provide the pinch roll assembly. Since each ofthe standards it and 42 is identical with the other, only a single onewill be described in detail herein for the sake of simplicity. Thestandard 42 is provided with a vertically extending slot 46 whichslidingly receives bearing element 43 for rotatably supporting therespective end of the roll 44. The bearing element 43 is retained withinthe slot 46 and may be adjusted vertically by a threaded adjustmentdevice 50. It will be appreciated that by turning the threadedadjustment device 50 in one direction, the respective end of the roll 44will be lowered; while turning the device in an opposite direction willcause the end to be elevated.

The edges of the strip of metal stock being formed are guided betweenpairs of horizontally spaced apart guide rolls 5'2 and 54-. The guiderolls 52 and 54 are mounted in supporting assemblings enabling the rollsto be adjusted horizontally toward and away from one anothersimultaneously; or alternatively, the rolls may be moved horizontallyindependently of one another. Each of the assemblies includes a bearingyoke for rotatively journaling each guide roll, a slide member for eachbearing yoke, a way for slidably supporting the slide members, and meansfor effecting relative movement of the members with respect to oneanother. For the sake of simplicity, a description of the mechanism foradjusting the roll 52 will be made in detail, since the mechanism forthe other roll 54 of the assembly is identical therewith.

The guide roll 52 is journaled within a bearing yoke 56 to rotate abouta vertical axis. The bearing yoke 56 is in turn fixedly secured to aslide member 58, which is slidably mounted in a way 6% extendingtransversely of and spanning the space between the side rail members 14and 16. The slide member 58 may be moved along the way 60 by anexternally threaded drive screw 62, which is received within aninternally threaded bore which extends through the slide member 58.

The outermost end of the drive screw 62 is supported by a bearingelement 64 which is mounted in the end wall of the way 66*. A portion ofthe drive screw 62 is adapted to extend through the bearing 64 and isformed to receive a hand crank, or the like, for imparting rotationalmovement thereto for effecting adjustment of the guide roll 52. Theinnermost end of the drive screw 62 is connected to a coupling 66, whichis likewise coupled to the corresponding innermost end of a threadeddrive screw for controlling the guide roll 54.

The coupling 66 is of the type which can be uncoupled, allowing therespective drive screws to rotate independently of one another, enablingone or the other of the guide rolls 52 and 54 to be adjustedindependently. However, when the coupling 66 is in its coupledcondition, simultaneous inward or outward movement of the guide rolls 52and 54 can be effected depending merely on direction in which the drivescrew 62 is turned.

In the embodiment illustrated, there are three guide roll assemblies;however, it will be readily appreciated that more or less in number maybe employed, depending primarily on the length of the mill section.

The initial bending or forming of the strip of metal stock isaccomplished by the interaction of the forming rolls 12, 13 and arelatively large roll 70. The roll 70 is rotatably mounted within agenerally inverted U-shaped frame 72 and is adapted to rotate about ahorizontal axis in parallel spaced relation above the axes of rotationof the rolls 13. The opposite ends of the frame 72 may be suitablysecured to the respective side rail members. 14 and 16. As the metalstrip is directed along the supporting rolls and thence across theforming rolls 12, 13, the leading edge thereof is caused to pass betweenthe lower tangential surface of the roller of the roll 70 and the uppertangential surfaces of the cooperating rolls 12 and 13, causing thestrip of metal to be progressively converted into a shallow U-shapedcross-sectional form prior to its entry into the main forming section ofthe mill.

The main forming section of the mill is comprised of a plurality offorming rolls which progressively convert the metal strip intosubstantially tubular form. The initial set of forming rolls, as shownon the accompanying drawings, comprises a lower roll 80 and acooperating upper roll 82, each of which is adapted to rotate about ahorizontal axis. The rolls 80 and 82 are rotatively mounted within apair of spaced apart upstanding standards 84 and 86. It will be readilyapparent that, where different strip thicknesses are employed, the angleof entry of the strip from the entry end of the mill into the formingsection will vary. In order to accommodate for the desired angular entryof the strip, the entry end of the mill is adjustably supported. Moreparticularly, the end of the entry end containing a pinch roll assemblyis pivotally mounted to a base element 90. The base element 90 containsa pair of spaced apart outwardly extending bracket members 92 and 94which are pivotally connected to downwardly extending brackets 96 and98, respectively, which are fixedly secured to the end rail member 20.

The opposite end of the entry end of the mill is provided with mechanismfor raising and lowering the entire section to pivot about the elements92, 94, 96 and 98. The mechanism comprises a base member 100, having apair of spaced apart upwardly extending brackets 102 and 104, whichpivotally contain lower ends of a pair of rack members 106 and 108,respectively. The rack members 106 and 108 are mounted within therespective brackets 102 and 104 in such a manner that a limited amountof relative pivotal movement is permitted between the rack members andtheir respective brackets.

A pair of downwardly depending spaced apart bearing elements 110 and 112is fixedly secured to a transversely extending rail member 114. Theopposite ends of the rail 'member114 are secured to the side rails 14and 16 of the main frame. A set of pinions 116 and 118 are keyed, orotherwise fixedly secured, to the opposite ends of a shaft 120, which,in turn, is rotatively mounted within the bearing elements 110 and 112.The pinions 116 and 118 cooperate and mesh with the teeth of therespective rack members 106 and 108 to provide for proper alignment ofthe main frame during any upward or downward movement, as will beexplained in detail hereinafter.

Intermediate the brackets 102 and 104, there is disposed another similarupwardly extending bracket 122, which is fixedly secured to the base100. The bracket 122 is pivotally connected to the bottom end of apressure fluid actuated piston and cylinder mechanism 124 havingsuitable inlet and outlet connections communicating with a source ofpressure fluid, not shown. The upper end of the mechanism 124 ispivotally connected to a bracket 126 which in turn is fixedly secured toa transversely extending rail member 128. The respective ends of therail member 128 are secured to the side rails 14 and 16.

In operation, it will be readily apparent that the one end of the baseframe of the entry end of the mill may be elevated or lowered by theintroduction or release of pressure fluid into or out of the pressurefluid actuated piston and cylindrical mechanism 124. The rack and pinionassembly, as will be appreciated, is employed to assure that properalignment of the base frame is maintained during the raising or loweringof the frame.

The forming roll 70 preforms the strip of metal stock prior to enteringthe main forming section of the mill and thereby enables the strip to befed into the forming section at a speed equal to the speed of the millwithout damage to the strip or the subsequent forming rolls.

The apparatus described is useful in the well-known downhill formingtechnique presently employed in the manufacture of metal tubing from aflat strip of metal stock. The apparatus may be readily adjusted tocause the relatively flat strip of stock being formed to enter theforming section of the mill at the desired angle and thereby militateagainst undesirable stretching of the metal which might otherwise occur.It will be appreciated that the apparatus, being adjustable, willaccommodate any downhill slope required for optimum forming con-'ditions.

From the above description, it will be manifest that a relatively simplestructure has been produced to provide for universal adaptation of atube mill to receive a large variety of strip stock. A wide range ofstrip thicknesses and widths may be employed by making minor adjustmentsto the mechanism hereinbefore described.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I haveexplained the principle and mode of operation of may invention and haveillustrated and described what I now consider to represent its bestembodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within thescope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced. otherwisethan as specifically illustrated and described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a universal apparatus for forming from a continuous flat strip ofmetal a tube of a predetermined selected diameter, wherein the flatstrip is caused to be moved along a predetermined path and formed fromthe flat strip into an annular cross-section; said apparatus includingan entry table for feeding the strip to a forming section comprising anelongate base frame, a plurality of spaced rolls for supporting thestrip and means for preliminarily bending said strip, rotatably mountedon said frame, means for pivotally mounting one end of said base frame,and means for effecting selective vertical movement of the other end ofsaid base frame.

2. In a universal apparatus for forming from a continuous fiat strip ofmetal a tube of a predetermined selected diameter, wherein the fiatstrip is caused to be moved along a predtetermined path and formed fromthe flat strip into an annular cross-section; said apparatus includingan entry table for feeding the strip to a forming section comprising anelongate base frame, a plurality of spaced rolls for supporting thestrip and means for preliminarily bending the strip, rotatably mountedon said frame, means for pivotally mounting one end of said base frame,and pressure fluid actuated means selectively raising and lowering theother end of said base frame.

5 6 3. In a universal apparatus for forming from a contive upward anddownward movement of the other end tinuous flat strip of metal a tube ofa predetermined of said base frame. selected diameter, wherein the flatstrip is caused to be 4. The invention defined in claim 1 includin Tackmo d along a predetermined h and f -med f h and pinion means formaintaining alignment of said base flat strip into an annularcross-section; said apparatus 5 frame dun-Hg Vertical movement of saidother including an entry table for feeding the strip to a form-References Cited mg section comprising an elongate base frame, aplurality of spaced rolls for supporting the strip and means for UNITEDSTATES PATENTS preliminarily bending the strip, rotatably mounted onsaid $23 323; $31? 2 3 12% 10 ane 2-- frame, means for pivotally mountmgne nd f sald 2,251,901 8/1941 Cairns 72 181 base frame, and piston andcylinder means communicating with a source of pressure fluid forcontrolling selec- CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

